Jung Ryeo-won

2000–2004: Debut with Chakra

While an exchange student at Korea University from Griffith University in the 2000s, Jung was discovered on the streets of Apgujeong by Lee Sang-min, changing her life and career path. She was placed in the K-pop girl group Chakra, along with Eeni, Eun and Hwangbo; their first album was released in 2000. Jung said her morale was at a low in 2002, saying she sometimes felt alienated from her fellow Koreans and felt uncomfortable with the sexy clothes she had to wear as a singer.^[3][4]

2005–2012: Transitioning to acting

Chakra disbanded in 2004, and Jung pursued acting full-time.^[5] After undergoing 11 unsuccessful auditions that year, she said she began doubting her decision to become an actress. In 2005, she gained recognition in the cult vampire sitcom Hello Franceska,^[6] and then made her breakthrough in the romantic comedy My Name Is Kim Sam-soon.^[7] The series was a massive success with average ratings of over 37% and 50.5% for the finale.^[8][9] Jung was praised for her portrayal of a fragile but good-natured character who fights for the hero's love,^[4] and eventually became one of the few successful singer-turned-actresses in the country.^[10]

Her follow-up series Autumn Shower received low ratings,^[11] but she rebounded with Which Star Are You From?, in which she played a country bumpkin living in the mountains of Gangwon Province.^[12][13] She was cast in her first movie leading role as a girl with multiple personality disorder in 2007's Two Faces of My Girlfriend,^[14][15] and though it was not a box office hit, she won Best New Actress at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.^[16][17][18]

Jung in 2008 and 2009

As the titular character in 2009's Princess Jamyung, Jung starred in her first period drama.^[19][20] She then played a hikikomori in Castaway on the Moon, arguably her most notable film yet.^{[21][22][unreliable source?]}

Both her 2011 big screen projects had elements of romance. She played a teacher in a small South Korean village who meets a North Korean officer in the Korean War comedy/drama In Love and War,^[23][24] and in Kwak Kyung-taek's melodrama Pained, she played a hemophiliac who falls for her opposite, a man with analgesia, the inability to sense physical pain.^[25]

Jung began 2012 by starring as the heroine in the quirky series History of a Salaryman.^[26][27] Playing one of the most unusual female characters in Korean drama history, she delivered a fun, no-holds-barred performance as a red-haired, constantly swearing, selfish, reckless, rich snob, but injected heart and raw emotion into a character that could've otherwise been very unlikable. Critics and audiences were impressed with her performance, and her series nabbed the top spot on the Monday and Tuesday primetime ratings lineup while she later won a Top Excellence Award at the SBS Drama Awards.^[28][29][30]

She then starred in Never Ending Story, a romantic comedy about two people diagnosed with terminal illness who decide to spend their remaining time together preparing for death.^[31][32] In June 2012, Jung's contract with Won Entertainment expired and she signed with Bae Yong-joon's agency, KeyEast.^[33][34] Later that year, she played an idealistic screenwriter in The King of Dramas.^[35][36]

2013–2017: Acting setback

In January 2013, Jung unveiled her official website, through which she hopes to connect with her fans. Messages from the actress are uploaded in the "From rw" section.^[37] She then reunited with Pained costar Kwon Sang-woo in the medical drama Medical Top Team, playing a charismatic and ambitious thoracic surgeon.^[38]

Jung next played an impatient and careless radio producer in the cable series Bubble Gum in 2015; she and co-star Lee Dong-wook previously appeared together in the 2003 sitcom Do the Right Thing.^[39] In 2017, she starred in the legal procedural drama, Witch at Court, playing a highly ambitious prosecutor who speaks her mind and is known for her aggressive investigation tactics.^[40] For her portrayal, she received the Top Excellence Award at the 2017 KBS Drama Awards.^{[citation needed]}

2018–present: Return to television and continued work

In 2018, Jung starred in the black comedy film Gate.^[41] She then starred in the SBS' gastronomy drama Wok of Love.^[42]

In 2019, Jung starred in the legal television series Prosecutor Civil War.^[43]

In September 2020, Jung's contract with KeyEast expired. She subsequently signed with H & Entertainment.^[44] In July 2022, Jung renewed her contract with H & Entertainment.^[45]

Art

Jung published Ryeo-won's Sketchbook in 2007, which contained her drawings and writings about her Christian faith.^[46] Though she hasn't received formal instruction in fine arts, Jung likes to express herself through drawing in her spare time. Two of her artwork pieces were sold at a charity auction in 2012.^[47]

Hosting

In March 2014, Jung began hosting Art Star Korea on cable channel StoryOn, an audition program/reality show featuring contemporary artists.^[48][49] She also participated in the program Living Together (살아보니 어때).^{[citation needed]}

Philanthropy

On February 10, 2023, Jung donated 50 million won to help the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake, by donating money through World Vision.^[50]

Film

Television series

Web series

Music video appearances

Soundtrack appearances